Books

Pluto looms large in Flagstaff, where residents and businesses alike take pride in their community's most enduring claim to fame: Clyde Tombaugh's 1930 discovery of Pluto at Lowell Observatory.
Percival Lowell began searching for his theoretical "Planet X" in 1905, and Tombaugh's "eureka!" experience brought worldwide attention to the city and observatory. Ever since, area scientists have
played leading roles in virtually every major Pluto-related discovery, from unknown moons to the existence of an atmosphere and the innovations of the New Horizons spacecraft. Lowell historian Kevin
Schindler and astronomer Will Grundy guide you through the story of Pluto from postulation to exploration.

This beautiful heirloom-quality book features a glimpse of Flagstaff from the early years to 1939
through stunning historic photos. The Arizona Daily Sun is thrilled to include photos from their readers, in addition to photos carefully selected from The Museum of Northern
Arizona and Lowell Observatory.

During the 1960s and early 1970s, northern Arizona played a critical role in fulfilling President Kennedy's bold challenge of sending humans to the moon. From the rocky depths of the Grand Canyon
to lofty cosmic views from Flagstaff's dark skies, northern Arizona was ideal for activities ranging from moon buggy testing and geology training to lunar mapping and mission simulation. Every
astronaut who walked on the moon, from Neil Armstrong to Gene Cernan, prepared for his journey in northern Arizona, and all used maps created by Flagstaff artists to navigate their way around the
lunar surface. This book captures the spirit of these pioneers with stunning images from NASA, the US Geological Survey, and others.

The Far End of the Journey: Lowell Observatory's 24-inch Clark Telescope

Lowell Observatory's Clark Telescope is one of the most storied telescopes in the world. Commissioned in 1896 by Percival Lowell for his controversial studies of Mars, the telescope served as V.M.
Slipher's workhorse in obtaining early evidence of the expanding nature of the universe. In the 1960s, artists and scientists used the Clark to create detailed lunar maps in anticipation of the
Apollo missions to the moon. This coffee table book covers the significant and charming history of this telescope, from its quirky construction and this legacy of groundbreaking research, to famous
visitors and educational programs by the likes of Walt Disney Productions, Carl Sagan, and Bill Nye the Science Guy. The final chapter covers the telescope's recent breathtaking renovation.

Atop a mesa one mile west of downtown Flagstaff, Arizona, sits Lowell Observatory, an astronomical research facility steeped in tradition. Percival Lowell, scion of a Boston Brahmin family,
initially established his observatory in 1894 to study the possibility of intelligent life on Mars. Lowell widely popularized his controversial theories, sparking debate among both the scientific
community and lay public. In the following years, the observatory's astronomers made several discoveries that dramatically altered our understanding of space, including Clyde Tombaugh's discovery of
Pluto in 1930 and V.M. Slipher's detection of the expanding nature of the universe in 1912. Decades later, Apollo astronauts visited as part of their training to fly to the moon. These stories and
others offer a glimpse of the scientific discovery, community pride, and personal triumph that define Lowell Observatory.

From the Preface: The story of the Flagstaff Festival of Science is as rich as the subject it celebrates. We intend this book to capture the spirit and significance of this annual event
while recalling the unique circumstances that make it possible. We have included a yearly listing of themes, keynote speakers, program titles, host sites, sponsors, and board members (starting
with the first board in 1992).